A long, freckled, grinning ape stepped forward.
"Well, it was this way: we was a-tryin' to head the herd off, and we didn't see the sheep till we was right into 'em——"
"That's a lie!" said Mose. "You drove the horses right down the valley into the sheep. I saw you do it."
"You call me a liar and I'll blow your heart out," shouted the cowboy, dropping his hand to his revolver.
"Halt!" said Delmar. "Easy now, you young cockalorum. It ain't useful to start shooting where Andrew Delmar is."
Conrad spoke sharply: "Jim, shut up." Turning to Mose, "Where did it happen?"
"In Boulder Creek, just south of the road."
Conrad turned to Delmar in mock surprise. "South of the road! Your sheep must o' strayed over the line, Mr. Delmar. As they was on our side of the range I don't see that I can do anything for you. If they'd been on the north side——"
"That'll do," interrupted Delmar. "I told you that so long as the north side fed my sheep I would keep them there to accommodate your stockmen. I give notice now that I shall feed where I please, and I shall be with my sheep night and day, and the next man that crosses my sheep will leave his bones in the grass with the dead sheep, and likely a horse or two besides." He stepped toward Conrad. "Williams has had his warning; I give you yours. I hold you responsible for every shot fired at my men. If one of my men is shot I'll kill you and Williams at sight. Good-day."
"What'll we do?" called one of the cowboys.